Chain tightener



Nbv. -24 9 1,562,640

w. J. HINES 1 CHAIN TIGHTENER Filed April 5, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFKIE.

CHAIN TIGI-ITENER.

Application filed April 5,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. HINES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Four States, in the county of Marion and State of lVest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chain Tighteners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to tensioning devices for the anti-skid chains for vehicle wheels and more particularly to a device of this character which, when not in use, may be disposed within the tool box of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character including a supporting frame and a plurality of spring tensioning elements supported from the frame together with mountings for the spring tensioning elements rendering the same readily attached to the annular side chain of the skid chains.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the tensioning springs are mounted upon shiftable levers and adjustable longitudinally of these levers so that the tension under which they are placed may be regulated.

These and other objects I attain by the construction and arrangement shown in the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automobile wheel showing a chain tightener constructed in accordance with my invention applied thereto, the anti-skid chain of the vehicle wheel being indicated by fragments;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the chain tightener removed, one of the levers being shown released;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2; I

Figure 4 is a perspective of the finger piece for shifting the levers.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally indicates the supporting device of the chain tightener which comprises a hollow frame adapted to abut the outer face of the wheel in surrounding relation to the hub 11 there- Serial No. 704,483.

of. This frame in the present instance is shown as composed of a plurality of similar bars 12, the bars being pivotally connected with one another at the ends thereof.

It is preferred that this pivotal connection be relatively stiff so that the frame, when shaped, will hold its shape during application. In the present instance, four of the bars 12 are employed forming a rectangular frame. At each corner of the frame or at each pivotal connection 13 between adjacent ends of the bars a lever 14 is mounted, the pivotal connection between the bars forming a mounting for the end of the lever. The connection of this lever permits its movement to parallel relation with one of the bars.

Spaced longitudinally of the central portion of the lever are a plurality of threaded openings 15 selectively engageable by the threaded element 16 having a head. This threaded element is directed through an eye 17 carried by one end of the tension spring 18, the opposite end of which is provided with a hook 19 in engagement with the annular side chain 20 of an anti-skid chain. The free end of the lever in the outer edge thereof is formed with a notch 21 and the bar 12 with which it is associated has slidably mounted thereon a clip 22 in the form of a rectangular yoke which, when the bar 12 and lever 14 are in side by side relation, can be slid over the end of the lever 14 for alignment with the notch 21.

In the use of the device the frame is sim' ply placed against the side of the wheel, the levers 14 having previously been disengaged from the clips 22 so that they are free to move. These levers are swung outwardly and the hooks 19 at the ends of the springs thereof engage in the chain 20. After all of the levers are so engaged the levers are successively moved into side to side relation with their associated bars, alternate levers being preferably moved to such position successively. With the levers in side to side relation with their bars the clips 22 are slid over the ends of the levers to hold the same. The tension of the springs 18 will tend to move the levers outwardly with the result that the notch 21 will be firmly engaged with the clip 22 thus preventing further outward movement of the lever 14 and any sidewise movement of the clips 22. In order to facilitate the shifting of the levers 14 against the tension of the springs they are III preferably provided adjacent their outer ends with an outstanding lug or finger grip 23 which may be engaged to shift them.

It will be seen that a chain tightener constructed in accordance with my invention will be readily attached to a vehicle chain and when attached will effectually prevent slackness of this chain or loss of chains in transit. It will furthermore be obvious that the construction hereinbefore set forth is capable of some change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of my invention and I accordingly do not limit myself thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. Means for tightening the anti-skid chains of vehicles, comprising a frame adapted to be applied against one face of the wheel of the vehicle about the hub thereof, a plurality of levers each pivoted at one end to the frame to swing in the general plane of the frame, means including tension springs for connecting the levers at points intermediate their ends with the annular chain of the anti-skid chain of the wheel at the same side of the wheel as the frame, said springs being tensioned when the free ends of the levers are moved toward the frame and means for securing the levers against movement with said springs under tension.

2. Means for tightening the anti-skid chains of vehicles, comprising a frame adapted to be applied against one face of the wheel of the vehicle about the hub thereof, a plurality of levers each pivoted at one end to the frame to swing in the general plane of the frame, means including tension springs for connecting the levers at points intermediate their ends with the annular chain of the anti-skid chain of the wheel at the same side of the wheel as the frame, said springs being tensioned when the free ends of the levers are moved toward the frame and means for securing the levers against movement with said springs under tension, including clips slidable upon the frame adap ed to receive the free ends of the levers, the free ends of the levers being provided at the outer edges thereof with notches with which said clips coact.

3. Means for tightening the anti-skid chains of vehicles, comprising a frame adapted to be applied against one face of the wheel of the vehicle about the hub there-- of, a plurality of levers each pivoted'at one end to the frame to swing in the generalplane of the frame, means including tension springs for connecting the levers at points intermediate their ends with the annular chain of the antiskid chain of the wheel at the same side of the wheel as the frame, said springs being tensioned when the free ends of the levers are moved toward the frame and means for securing the levers against movement with said springs underten'sion, the point of connection of said tension springs with said levers beingadjustable longitudinally of the lovers.

4:. Means of tightening the anti-skid chains of vehicles, comprising a plurality of straight bars pivotally connected at their ends to provide a frame work, levers plvoted to the frame adapted to swing in the same plane of the frame, each of said levers hay ing secured thereto intermediate its-ends one end of a tension spring, thefree end o'f which is provided with a hook for engagement with the annular side chain of an antiskid device and means slidable upon each of the bars for locking the free end of the as-' sociated lever to maintain the lever in side to side relation with the bar. 1

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

WILLIAM J. HINES. 

